How to Treat Kids for Anxiety for a Dentist Visit

Approximately 30 to 40 million Americans suffer from a fear of the dentist. Children can be particularly fearful of the dentist and can experience dentist visits as traumatic. Early dental fears can become severe dental phobias, if not addressed. These fears often result in putting off dental visits which can result in poor oral health, including infected gums and teeth, bad breath, and an unattractive smile. Addressing fears early can keep anxieties from interfering with dental health. Pediatric dentists have special training in managing kids' fears and anxieties about the dentist.

Things You'll Need

• Pediatric dentist
• Caregiver

Show More

Instructions

Before the Dental Appointment

• 1

  Start dental check-ups at a young age. Early dental visits help familiarize a child with what to expect and increase the child's comfort with dental visits.

• 2

  Enforce good oral hygiene at home. Daily flossing and twice-daily brushing will make dental problems less likely and dental visits more routine.

• 3

  Don't convey your fears of the dentist to the child. Children often notice and emulate adult fears and anxieties.

• 4

  Carefully choose a pediatric dentist who has experience with anxious children. Your pediatrician may be able to recommend a pediatric dentist.

At the Dentist

• 5

  Act calm and confident. Using a firm but calm voice will convey to the child that you are in control and the situation is not dangerous.

• 6

  Use the "tell-show-do" technique in which a dentist states what they are going to do, demonstrates with the instrument, and then applies the treatment. With this technique the child is oriented to every task the dentist performs before it is done, making it less scary.

• 7

  Pair a timid child with a cooperative child. The cooperative child can model calm behavior which the timid child is then more likely to imitate.

• 8

  Coach, distract and praise the child. Tell the child to breathe slowly, distract him by looking at pictures on the wall or telling stories, and be sure to praise him if he gets right up in the chair and does what the the dentist asks.

• 9

  Use gentle restraint or mild sedation only if necessary. Restraint and sedation do not allow the child to conquer his fears on his own and can be scary for both the child and the parent or caregiver.